MIDTERM Flashcards
What are two signal types of connecting modules?
Audio and Control
A sawtooth waveform with a fundamental of 200Hz will have a 3rd harmonic at ?
600Hz
which pitch control allows you to quickly change pitch by octaves?
Octav switch
which two types of waves only have odd harmonics
square and triangle
if the pulse width of a pulse wave is set to 20%, the harmonic content will have every– harmonic missing?
1/5th
using FM synthesis, a carrier oscillator is set to a sine wave @ 350Hz and a modulator oscillator is set to a sine at 70Hz, 1st group of sidebands will be – and the 2nd will be —.
280 and 420
210 and 490
define beating
periodic fluctuation in loudness caused by slightly detuning two oscillators
setting two oscillators seven half steps apart will result in what interval?
perfect 5th
if 2 oscillators producing sine waves at 300 Hs and 500Hz are processed through a ring modulator, what will the output be
800 and 200
3 types of controllers?
envelope generator, LFO, and keyboard
4 pole low pass filter with a cutoff frequency at 300Hz will have an attenuation of —- dB at 1.2kHz?
-51
which pitch control allows you to make adjustments in cents?
fine tuning
for a band pass filter, the center frequency is the point at which there is —- attenuation.
no
what does a band pass filter do?
passes a specific band while cutting below and above the band
what does a band-reject / notch filter do?
cuts a specific frequency band while passing above and below the band
what musical property is shaped with an envelope generator routed to an amplifier (VCA)?
loudness
envelope silence to max
Attack
max to sustain
decay
what instrument was features on “Good Vibrations”
theremin
explain difference between Moog and buchla approach to building analog synthesizers.
Moog wanted to include the keyboard/ things people were more familiar with. Buchla was more interested in experimenting with sounds so he didn’t initially attach a keyboard.
level help until key is released
Sustain
return to silence after key is released
Release
in order to shape timbre, where would you route an envelope generator?
filters cutoff frequency
the – control for the filter envelope generator determines how far the cutoff frequency will sweep audio spectrum. the starting point is cutoff frequency.
amount/depth
what does turning up the keyboard tracking knob on a low pass filter do?
helps you retain some highs/ brilliance as you go up the piano
if envelope sustain level is set to max, which stage is irrelevant?
Decay
2 common types of source modules found on a synthesizer?
oscillator and noise generator
filter EG controls how to — will move
cutoff frequency
if one oscillator is tuned to 400Hz and the other to 405Hz, what is the rate of beating? rate 2 octaves higher?
5hz, 20hz
a keyboard can use an opened gate signal to trigger what?
envelope generator
if you want an envelope generator to modulate pitch, where would you route it?
oscillator
what does glide/portamento setting on synth control?
causes notes to gradually glide from one to another
which controller has a freq range below the range of human hearing?
LFO
how is square wave different from triangle wave?
harmonics at a square wave are at a higher amplitude
who invented voltage control synthesizer?
Bob Moog
modifier module has what kinds of inputs and outputs?
control input, audio input and output
how is vibrato created with synthesis?
adding a small amount of modulation to an oscillators pitch while an LFO set to a sine wave or triangle if sine is not available
2 types of modifiers on synthesizer?
filters and amplifiers
when routing an LFO to a filter, which parameter allows you to choose the shape of the timber change?
waveform selector
2 pole low pass filter with cutoff frequency will have an attenuation of what?
-15
which pitch control allows you to make adjustments in semitones?
corse tuning
who invented therein?
Leon theremin
what is the name of the control that allows you to get frequency of an LFO?
the rate
where is cutoff frequency technically located on most filters?
where attenuation is at 3dB down
difference between pink and white noise?
pink noise: equal energy per octave
white noise: equal energy per bandwidth
what does LFO depth/amount control determine?
range of change/ modulation
basic model for subtractive synthesis?
if 2 oscillators producing sine wave at 500Hz and 140 Hz are processed through ring mod, what will output be?
640 and 360
how does sample and hold circuit work?
outputs random series of voltage levels by sampling incoming voltage
FM synthesis requires 2 sources that assume 2 different roles. what are those 2 roles?
modulator and carrier
what does Turing off keyboard tracking do? when is it useful and why?
disconnects keyboard from controlling pitch. useful for ring mod and FM because it makes math interesting when once source is constant
source module has what kind of inputs and outputs?
control input, audio output
in FM, what source is always heard?
carrier
a 5 pole low pass filter with cutoff frequency of 100Hz will have an attenuation of —- at 400Hz
-63
a controller mod has what kinds of inputs and outputs?
control input, control output
difference between modifier and modulator?
modifier is a type of module that changes audio signal. a modulator is a “role” than any module can assume, depending on synths routing capabilities. modulators work via control signals
in FM synthesis, turning up “amount” parameter adds:
more harmonic sidebands
what is a filter?
a circuit or device that passes certain frequencies and blocks others
on what type of filters is the term center frequency applicable?
notch and band pass
for band reject, the center frequency is the point at which there is — attenuation?
complete
every pole equals how many dB?
6dB
what is envelope as it relates to synthesis?
curve/ shape of property of a sound over time
what is filter envelope generator controlling?
shape of timbre
main difference between LFO and envelope generator?
LFO is continuous ongoing modulation
what is after touch?
ability to modify sound by applying pressure to key
what does adding resonance do?
boosts frequency band at cutoff frequency and center frequency
on synth that had EG control, every sound envelope control what parameter?
loudness (amplitude envelope)
routing an LFO to a – results in modulation of cutoff frequency.
filter
what’s difference between multi trigger and single trigger envelope generator?
with multi, EG will always restart attack stage with pressing of every key. single will restart attack stage when all keys have been released.
what is subtractive synthesis?
Type of synthesis where sound is created by taking waveform rich in harmonies and using a filter to take out unwanted harmonies
3 model categories?
3 musical properties of sound?
frequency/ pitch, spectrum/ timbre, loudness/ amplitude.
what kind of signal does a noise generator generate?
random signal that contains all frequencies.
